Knockdown chair



g- 15, 1950 I A. A. STELZER 2,518,955

7 mocxmown CHAIR Filed Julie 19. 194'! I N VEN TOR.

ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 15, 1950 UNI T ED STATES PAT ENT OF Fl CE OGKDOWN CHAIR Arthur A. Stei'zer, Van Nuys, Calif.

Application June 19-, 1947, Serial No. 755,679

' 4' Claims. (01. 155-196) I This invention relates to collapsibleifurniture and itis primarilyan object of the inventionto;

provide a plurality of panelsor units so conestructedv as to permit the same; toibe readily interlocked tomaintain the same in desired assembled relation and with equal facility permitting the same, if desired, to be disassembled.v

'It is also an object of th invention to provide an article of furniture including a plurality of panels or units each of which being provided thereon at desired locations means to enable the same to be readily and conveniently united with other unit or units,

A more specified object. of the invention is to provide achair which can easily be converted from a rocker to a non-rocker and vice versa.

The invention consistsv in the details of con:- struction' and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved knock-c down furniture whereby certain important advantages.- are attained, as will hereinafter be more fully set forth.

In order that my invention may be better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying. drawings,v wherein? t ,Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of aistruc-vture embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a view in front elevationof the structure illustrated in. Figure 1;

Figure-3 is a view in plan of. a. sidepanel or unit.

as herein embodied; i

Figured is a view in plan of a-rear or back unit or panel as herein-employed;-

unit as herein ccnrrn'arised;

Figure 6 is a view i-n plan of a bottom unit or panel as herein embodied; and

Figure 7 is a view plan of aside member of a rocker type.

As illustrated inthe accom anying drawings, S denotes side panelsor units of substantially duplicate construction and each-of which comprises, to one side and at what may be termed its upper end, an upwardly disposed elongated arm or post I provided in its top or fre end portion with an upwardlyfacing open "notch or recess 2. The inneror outer edge face 3' of the post or arm I is substantially straight and said straight edge face is continued a predetermined distance inwardly of the body portion of the panel to an outstanding shoulder 5 or the like rearwardly directed. Thelower or inner end of the edge face 3 is continued within an upwardly facing open notch or recess 6 in said shoulder 5jimmediately adjacent to the body portion 4. a

v The front edge face of each of the panels S at a point substantially transversely aligned with the shoulder 5, is formed to provide a second upwardly facing shoulder I provided in its, inner portionwith an upwardly facing open notch or recess 8, and immediately adjacent to the top of this recess or notch 8 of the body 4, the panel is provided with the inwardly disposed short open notch or recess 9- faci-ng outwardly. This notch or recess 9 is at substantially right angles to the longitudinal axis of the panel S.

In Figure 4 of the drawing is illustrated a back panel or unit B ofrequireddimensions which is provided at its upper or top extremity with the laterally and oppositely directed short arms I0,

the under marginal portions of which immediately adjacent to the body ll of the panel B, are providedwith the downwardly opening notches or re- Figure 5 is a view inplan of a bracemember of '85 cesses i2. The notches or recesses [2 permit the arms [0 to: interlock with the upper or top portions of the arms or posts 3. The neck portions or of the arms It are readily received within the notches or recesses 2 at the upper or outer ends of the arms or posts The lower marginal portion of the panel B adjacent its opposite sides is provided with the downwardly opening notches or recesses 14 which permit interlocking with the rear portions of the panels S. It is believed to be apparent that the parts of the unit B immediately above the notches or recesses M will be received within the recesses or notches 6.

It is also believed to be readily apparent that the panel or unit B can be readily placed in desired assembly with the respect to the panels or units S by substantially straight downward movement and. removed by corresponding movement in the opposite direction.

The lower portion of the back panel or unit B substantially at its center is provided with a long transversely directed opening I6 the lower edge 12 of which is cut out to provide the opposed inwardly facing shoulders I'L vided with the outwardly facing notches or recesses l9 which readily receivethe portionsof the panel B immediately to the rear of the shoulder l! as the base or bottom P is moved downwardly within the slot I6.

Thepanel P, at the forward portion thereof is provided with the oppositely disposed and laterally directedmemb'ers or extension plates 20 coplaner with the body 2 of the panel or unit P and the rear portions of these members or plates 20 immediately adjacent to the side edges of the body 2| of the panel or unit P are provided with the rearwardly disposed open notches or recesses 22 which receive the body portions 4 of the side The panels P immediately to the rear of the notches or recesses 9 while, of course, the portions of the members or plates 20 immediately in advance of the notches or recesses 22 are received within such notches or recesses 9.

It is also believed to be apparent that the bottom panel or unit P may be readily placed in assembly by substantially a direct straight movement, and removed in the same manner. In the application of this panel or unit P, however, the rear portion must be slightly elevated toallow the lug 18 to pass through the upper portion of the slot I6.

To further support the bottom panel or unit P, a cross member or unit 23 is provided which is substantially fiat and relatively narrow. This member or unit 23, when applied, has close contact with the under surface of the applied panel or .unit P and is of a length to extend beyond the applied side panels S so that portions of the side panels immediately below the notches or recesses 8 can be received in the upwardly opening notches or recesses 24 formed in the edge of the support member 23 at the opposite end portion of the member. Obviously when this unit or member 23 is applied, the portions of the unit or member 23 immediately above the notches or recesses 24 will be received'within the notches or recesses 8 of the side panels 8.

As illustrated, particularly in Figures 1 and 3, the side panels S are of a type to provide for a chair of a non-rocker type. In Figure '7 is illustrated a side panel C substantially the same as in Figures 1 and 3 except that the bottom or lower edge thereof is arcuate for the production of a chair of a rocker type. It is believed obvious that the panels S and C may readily be selectively used in accordance with the desire to have a chair of either type.

In view of the foregoin it is believed to be apparent that a structure is provided comprising a plurality of panels or units which can be readily assembled asdesired and knocked down with equal facility. Furthermore, it is believed to be apparent that the structure is one which eliminates the. necessity of using nails or other mechanical means and in fact avoids the necessity of using any binder.

I claim:

1. An assembly of the class described, comprising two transversely spaced side units, means for maintaining the same in such spaced relation, comprising a third unit between and operatively engaged with the first named units, said third unit being provided with an elongated opening, one marginal portion of said opening bein provided with inwardly facing spaced shoulders, a fourth unit between and operatively engaged with the first named units and having an outstanding lug insertable through the opening of the third unit above the shoulders thereof, said lug of the fourth unit in its opposite end portions being provided with outwardlyopening recesses to permit the lug to be received between the shoulders.

2. An article of furniture comprisin two side units each having a rear edge provided with upwardly and rearwardly directed narrow open recesses lying in the same plane, said recesses being vertically spaced, a back unit having opposite side edges each provided with spaced recesses opening 70 in the same direction and in a direction opposite to the recesses of the side units, the recesses of 4 the side units and of the back unit permitting the back unit and side units to interlock.

3. An article of furniture comprising side units provided in their rear portions with open recesses disposed in the same direction, said recesses being at spaced points along the units and at the rear thereof, a back unit having at its opposite side portions open recesses opening in the same direction andin a direction opposite to the recesses 1 of the side units, the recesses of the side units and of the back unit permitting the back unit and side units to interlock, the lower portion of the back unit being provided in its central part withv an elongated opening, a bottom unit,

an outstanding lug carried by the rear portion of the bottom unit, the lower portion of the opening of the back panel being provided with the inwardly facing spaced shoulders, the lug of the bottom unit being of a length greater than the distance between the shoulders of the back panel, the portion of the opening above the shoulders being of a length to permit the lug of the bottom unit to be inserted therethrough, the lug of the bottom unit being provided 25 in its end portion with outwardly opening slots to permit the lug to be received between the shoulders within the opening of the back unit, the side units at the front portions thereof being provided with upwardly facing open notches, a supporting 3O cross unit provided in its end portions with open notches, said open notches of the supporting unit allowing said supporting unit in co-action with the notches of the side units to interlock with the side units, said supporting unit when in its position providing a support for the bottom unit.

4. A chair construction of the character set forth comprising two upright side units each having an upwardly extending post and a lower body portion, the body portion'having forwardly and 40 rearwardly projecting shoulders, each rear shoulliider and the top end of the post having an upwardly opening slot, a flat back unit adapted to position between the opposing facesof said posts, said back unit having a laterally projecting arm at the top of each side edge, each arm having a -'T- ";downwardly opening notch for interlocking connection with the notch in the top of the adjacent post, said back portion having a laterally projecting part at the bottom of each side edge adapted to extend across the top of a rearwardly projectlii-ing shoulder for engagement in the shoulder notch, a support unit disposed across between the forwardly projecting shoulders and having a downwardly directed edge engaged in the slot of each-adjacent shoulder, .a seat unit disposed beg'tween the side units, connecting means between the rear" of the seat unit and the back unit, and connecting means between the seat unit and each side unit adjacent to the front shoulder of the 5n latter.

, ARTHUR A. STELZER.

' "REFERENCES CITED The following references fileof this patent: g UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name 'Date 490,288 Hubbard 'Jan. 24, 1893- 1,239,279 --"-Loeblein Sept; 4, 1917 .6. 1,7'35,851 Burton Nov. 19, 1929 1,747,900 Jenny Feb. 18, 1930 are of record in the 

